Which Sleep Surgery Works Best?

Since each obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patient has a different anatomy and obstruction issue there is no single surgery that helps everyone.

Advances in upper airway and sleep surgery can offer a definitive solution for many OSA patients to get rid of their CPAP. In other cases, surgery can be part of a comprehensive approach making the use of CPAP or oral appliances more tolerable.

The goal of sleep surgery is to reduce anatomical obstruction in the nose, palate, throat and along the tongue. Often patients have multiple areas of obstruction which must be treated to maximize airway patency. Unfortunately, there is no single surgery that helps everyone because each OSA patient has a different anatomy.

Therefore, prior to recommending any sleep surgery, a MetroHealth ENT provider will usually perform an upper airway exam to determine which treatment or surgery works best for each individual patient. This involves the patient being in a "sleep-like" state which is much more representative of their sleep apnea condition than performing an exam while a patient is awake. This exam is called Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE).

Who should make an appointment?

Approximately 40 to 50 percent of all OSA patients are unable to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) at night.  As a result, these patients are at an increased risk to experience other medical problems such as:

• Irregular heartbeat
• Stroke and heart attack
• High blood pressure
• Weight gain
• Worsening of diabetes
• Reduced life expectancy

Patients who are unable to use CPAP are encouraged to make an appointment with our specialists to learn more about other treatment options. MetroHealth offers state-of-the-art care for patients who suffer from OSA. A team of experienced physicians will address patients concerns and symptoms at a multidisciplinary level in order to treat OSA and to improve their quality of life.

To schedule an appointment, call 216-778-4391.